Flow guiding device



Aug. 25, 19-53 H. c. OTIS 2,649,914

FLOW GUIDING DEVICE Filed March 6. 1948 I 5 ?36 I, b

a 27 I I M28 as 28 a c /"'35 s5-- 4 j m? {2/ /4 6/ m w? HERBERT C. Ons

INVENTOR.

117 .3 BY W1 {641 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOW GUIDING DEVICE Herbert G. Otis, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 6, 1948, Serial No. 13,393

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in flow guiding devices for sub-surface well flow control devices.

Removable sub-surface flow control devices for oil or gas wells, such as the removable choke disclosed in the patent to H. C. Otis, 1,972,791, issued September 4, 1934, have been widely adopted for controlling the flow of fluids from the producing formations of such oil or gas wells upwardly through the well flow conductor to the surface. As higher sub-surface pressures have been encountered, greater pressure reductions are effected across the flow control device. Furthermore, the presence of sand, water, or other extraneous matter, in such high pressure well fluids has created a dangerous condition in the well flow conductor because of the turbulence and cutting action of the fluids flowing upwardly out of the tubular mandrel of the removable well flow control device and into the considerably larger bore of the tubing thereabove. The gaseous fluids leaving the upper end of the mandrel or tube of the flow control device and entering the larger bore of the conductor expand or hell out rapidly and create a condition of turbulence just above the flow control device. This turbulence causes a severe wearing and cutting action on the bore wall of the well tubing or flow conductor, and in some cases will cause erosion completely through the wall of the conductor.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved flow guiding device which is adapted to be positioned in a well flow conductor at the upper end of a sub-surface well flow control device for reducing or preventing the turbulence and cutting action of the fluids flowing through the flow controlling device, as such fluids leave the upper end of the bore of the control device.

An important object of the invention is to provide a flow guiding device which is adapted to be inserted into the well flow conductor and anchored therein at the upper end of the sub-surface flow controlling device for the purposes described, said flow guiding device being separately removable from the flow conductor without disturbing the conductor or the flow control device therein. I v Another object of the invention is to provide a flow guiding device of the character described which is provided with a thick-walled section immediately above the upper end of the flow control device, whereby fluids flowing into the flow guiding device act upon the thick-walled section, thus providing for longer life of the guiding device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a flow guiding device, of the character described, which, is formed with a gradually increasing bore, whereby the flow passage provided by the bore isgradually increased from a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore of the sub-surface flow control device to a diameter approximately as great as the bore of the well flow conductor in which the guiding device is mounted, whereby fluids flowing through the bore of the sub-surface flow control are directed in a gradually increasing stream to the bore of the flow conductor, and flow cutting and turbulence are thereby reduced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein all parts of the device are placed under compression and held substantially stationary when the device is anchored in flow guiding position, whereby vibration and loosening of the parts are substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flow guiding device, of the character described, which is constructed and arranged to be lowered into the well flow conductor and anchored therein by means of a flexible line lowering mechanism, and which may also be removed from said flow conductor by means of a flexible line removing mechanism.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a flow guiding device of the character described which is arranged to engage the locking mechanism of the removable sub-surface flow control device to supplement the gripping action thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flow guide of the character described wherein the smallest bore through the flow guide is provided in the body portion upon which the expansible gripping. elements are mounted, said gripping elements being expanded into gripping engagement with the wall of the flow conductor by a, sleeve telescoping the body and having a bore diameter greater than the bore of the body, whereby fluid pressure reduction is taken across the smaller bore of the body and the sleeve is not urged upwardly by the well fluid pressure, so that the guide remains anchored in the conductor.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from a, reading of the following description of a device constructed inaccordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of a flow guiding device, constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the same being lowered into a, well flow conductor,

Figure 2 is a View, similar to Figure 1, showing the flow guide in anchored flow guiding position in the flow conductor;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly-in section, illustrating the gripping mechanism'of the W guide,

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure l, taken on the line 5 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, the numeral I9 designates an elongate cylindrical body or mandrel having an axial flow passage I! therethrough, The diam-. eter of the upper portion of the body is reduced to provide an upstanding cylindrical neck section [2 at the upper end of said body. Immediately below the neck portion i2, an external annular recess or groove I3 is formed in the periphery of the body, and spaced slots l4; extend upwardly from the annular groove through the upper surface of the large portion of the body.

Gripping elements Or slips I5, having sharp gripping teeth or serrations on their outer surfaces, are provided with depending handles it which extend downwardly through the slots 14 and into the annular groove l3 in the body. An inverted T-shaped foot piece or end i! is formed at the lower end of each slip handle and the lateral portions of said foot piece extend laterally from the handle in the annular groove to positively loosely connect the handles with the body. The T- shaped foot ends of the slips are retained in place in the annular groove by a band It, which is mounted in a counter-bored outer portion of the annular groove and surrounds the body.

An elongate tubular expander member or sleeve 26 is provided with an axial bore or flow passage 2|, the lower portion of which receives the cylindrical neck l2 of the body or mandrel it, whereby the sleeve telescopes the neck with a loose sliding fit. The sleeve is provided with an ex ternal inwardly and downwardl tapered er-- pander surface 22 which terminates short of the lower end of the sleeve, and the gripping slips are slidable longitudinally on the expander surface of the sleeve. An external annular flange 23 is formed on the sleeve immediately below the expander surface, and the slip handles it of the gripping slips extend through and are freely movable in spaced slots or openings 24 formed in said flange, The slip handles are restrained against outward displacement from the slots 2 in the flange by a band 25 which is secured in an annular groove surrounding such flange. Downward movement of the gripping slips with respect to the sleeve is limited by the engagement of the lower ends of the slips with the upper surface of the flange 23, while upward movement of the slips is limited by the engagement of the lower end of the sleeve 29 with the shoulder on the body at the lower end of the neck portion l2 thereof. Thus, the sleeve may undergo a limited longitudinal movement with respect to the body for expanding the slips or permitting retraction thereof.

The portion of the sleeve above the expander section 22- is substantially cylindrical in shapeand has an external diameter preferably only sufficiently smaller than the inner bore of the conductor or tubing T to permit the sleeve to move freely through the tubing.

As will readily be seen, the weight of the body to and the slips l5 carried thereby will normally move said slips to their lowermost position on the expander section 22 of the sleeve, where the slips engage and are supported upon the upper surface of the flange 23 of said sleeve. However, downward movement of the sleeve with respect to the slips will move the expander section downwardly between the slips to force said slips radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the wall of the tubing or conductor T. Once the slips have engaged the wall of the tubing, further application of force to the sleeve tends to increase the gripping action of the slips. Also, any upward force applied to the body H3 will be transmitted through the slip handles to the slips to prevent upward movement of said body. I

In. use, the flow guiding device is connected by means of a shear pin or other releasable means 26; to the lower end of a running tool R, which has 9. prong 21 slidable into the upper end of the bore of the sleeve. The shear pin is m sorted into a radial opening 28 extending through said sleeve and prong. The running tool R is a part of a lowering mechanism (not shown) by means of which the guide may be lowered into the well flow conductor. As will readily be seen, the lowering mechanism may be of the wellknown flexible line type.

The flow guide is lowered into the conductor T until the lower end of the body it engages over the upper end of a tubular mandrel 353 of a subsurface iiow control device C such as, for example, the flow control device disclosed in Otis, 1,972,791, and engages against the upper end of a slip carrier or sleeve 31 on said control device. The lower end of the bore of the body is bevelled atv 2a to provide for facilitating entry of the upperend of' the mandrel 30 into the bore H of the body and to provide for centering the body on the slip carrying sleeve 3| of the flow control device.

When the lower end of the body has engaged the carrier 3| of the flow control device, further downward movement of the body is prevented, whereupon further downward movement of the sleeve 2B causes the expander section of the sleeve to force the slips l5 outwardly into gripping engagement with the bore wall of the flow conductor. Continued application of a downward force to the running tool R, by jarring or otherwise, causes the shear pin 26 to be fractured, whereby the running tool is disconnected from the sleeve. Fracturing of the shear pin permits the running tool to move downwardl until the downwardly facing shoulder on the running tool engages the upper end of the sleeve, whereby the running tool may be used to further drive the sleeve downwardly by a jarring or hammering action. Thus, the sleeve may be firmly driven between the gripping slips to positively anchor 'the slips and guide inrposition in the conductor.

said guide being positively set and anchored by means of a straight downward non-rotative force. The running tool R may then be lifted upwardly out of the bore of the well conductor.

Since the lower" end of the. body it of the flow guiding device engages the upper end of the slip carrier or sleeve 33' of the well flow control device C, it will be seen that any upward movement of the carrier 31- of the control device tending to release the gripping members of such control device from gripping position will be resisted by the gripping engagement of the slips if: of the flow guiding device against the wall of the well flow conductor, thusproviding for supplemental or additional anchoring of the flow control device C in the well flow conductor.

0 Furthermore, it will be noted that the body is pressed firmly downwardly against the upper end of the carrier 3| of the control device, that the slips ['5 arefirmly pressed downwardly toward the body III with the foot pieces I! of the slip "handles'abutting against the lower side of .thelgroove l3'in' the body, that the slips are also securely pressed outwardly against the bore wall of conductor, and that the expander sleeve 20 is firmly held between the slips l5. Thus, all parts are under compression, and vibration and loosen ing of the parts is substantially eliminated.

The lower portion 33 of the bore of the body I is enlarged in diameter and is preferably only slightly larger in diameter than the upper end of the mandrel 30 of the well flow control device 0, whereby said mandrel may slide upwardly into said bore and fluids flowing from the tubular mandrel into the body of the guide will pass without undue turbulence. Above the lower portion 33, the bore of the body tapers inwardly to the smaller bore H, which is substantially equal in diameter to the bor of the mandrel 30 of the control device 0. The smaller bore ll extends substantially throughout the length of the body and is again flared outwardly at its upper end 34 to substantially the diameter of the bore 2| of the sleeve 26, whereby fluids flowing through the bore of the body will pass along the flared portion into the bore of the sleeve with very little turbulence. The upper portion 35 of the bore of the sleeve is also enlarged, the bore being tapered in merging from the smaller portion 2| into the larger portion. The extreme upper end of the enlarged portion 35 of the bore of the sleeve is further belled or flared outwardly, as illustrated at 36, whereby fluids flowing through the sleeve will pass along such belled portion 36 and into the bore of the tubing T without undue turbulence. Thus, it will be seen that the stream of fluids flowing upwardly through the well flow control device 0 will emerge from the upper end of the mandrel of said device into the bore of the body In of the flow guiding device, and will pass through said flow guiding device in a stream of gradually increasing size to the bore of theflow conductor thereabove, whereby flow cutting and turbulence above the flow control device are greatly reduced or substantially eliminated. It will also be noted that the walls of the lower portion of the body III are relatively thick, whereby the abrasive action of the fluids flowing from the mandrel of the flow control device to the bore of the body of the flow guiding device must erode or cut away a considerable amount of material before such fluids can act upon the walls of the well conductor adjacent the upper end of the mandrel of the flow control device. Thus, danger of eroding or cutting the conductor in two, with the hazards attendant thereupon, is substantially eliminated.

When it is desired to remove the flow guiding devic from within the conductor T, a suitable fishing spear (not shown) of any well-known desirable type, having expansible gripping dogs thereon, may be lowered through the conductor into the enlarged upper portion 35 of the bore of the expander sleeve 20, where the gripping dogs of said spear may be expanded into engagement with the bore wall or the sleeve. Application of an upward forc of pull by means of said spear will lift the sleeve upwardly, thus withdrawing the expander surface 22 from between the slips I5 and permitting said slips to be moved to a retracted position. Upwardly and outwardly inclined wedge surfaces l6a at the upper ends of the slip handles l6 are provided for engaging the band 25 on the lowerend of the expander sleeve for causing the slips to b moved inwardly to retracted non-gripping position. The slips move downwardly until they rest upon the upper surface of the flange 23 at the lower end of the sleeve, whereupon further upward movement of the sleeve 20 will lift the body l0. Thus, the flow guiding device may b removed from the bore of the well flow conductor, leaving the flow control device C in position therein.

The retrieving spear (not shown) may be lowered into and operated in the well conductor by means of a flexible line lowering and retrieving mechanism, or in any other suitable manner. It will be noted that the only movement or motion necessary to retrieve the guide device is a strai ht upward non-rotative pull on the expander sleeve.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a flow guiding device has been provided which is adapted to be positioned in a well flow conductor at the upper end of a sub-surface well flow control device for reducing the turbulence and cutting action of fluids flowing through the flow control device, and that such flow guiding device is adapted to be inserted into the conductor and anchored therein and removed therefrom independently of the flow control device. It will also be seen that the flow guiding device is arranged to be anchored in position in the conductor engaging the locking mechanism of the removable sub-surface flow control device to provide an additional or supplemental anchor for such flow control device, and that the parts of th guiding device are held in compression whereby vibration is prevented. Furthermore, the flow guiding device is so constructed and arranged that any fluid pressure reduction or drop is taken across the body of the guide, whereby th upward force resulting from such pressure reduction is applied directly to the gripping slips .of the flow guiding device to prevent displacement of the guide from position in the'conductor. It is to be particularly noted that a flow guiding device has been provided which is constructed and arranged to be lowered into a well flow conductor and anchored therein by means of a straight line downward non-rotative movement of the expander sleeve, whereby the guide may be inserted and anchored in place in the conductor by means of a flexible line lowering mechanism. Furthermore, the flow guiding device is removable from the conductor upon the application of a straight line upward non-rotative pull on the expander sleeve, whereby the guide device is readily removable from the conductor by means of a flexible line mechanism. In both instances, the flow guiding device is insertable into and removable from the flow conductor independently of the flow control device C.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of th construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the. appended claims, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters; Patent is:

1. A flow guiding device adapted to be positioned in a well flow conductor for reducing turbulence of fluids flowing from a sub-surface well flow control device mounted in said con- "ductor, said flow guiding device including: a body having a bore extending axially therethrough and having a stop shoulder at its lower end adapted to engage an upwardly facing surface on the flow control device to position said body with its bore communicating with the bore of the well flow control device, expansible gripping means carried by said body and projecting up- 7 wardly' therefrom, and. an expander sleeve telescoping the body and extending upwardly above the upper end of the body, said expander sleeve being movable downwardly with relation to said gripping means for expanding. the gripping means into gripping engagement with the bore wall of the well fi'o'w conductor to maintain the body in position therein, the bore of the expander sleeve forming an upward continuation of the bore of the body, and the bores of the body and sleeve gradually increasing in diameter in anupward direction from a point intermediate the ends of the body to deliver fluids flowing through the flow guiding device to the bore of the conductor in a stream of gradually increasing diameter above said point intermediate the ends of the body.

2. A flow guiding device= adapted to bepositioned in a well how conductor for reducing turbulence of fluidsf-lowin-gfrom a sub-surface well flow control device having a bored mandrel and a slip carrier sleeve slidable on said mandrel and mounted in said conductor, said how guiding device including: a body having a bore: therethrough and having its upper portion reduced in external diameter to provide a neck section, a stop shoulder atthe lower end of the body adapted to' telescope over the upper end of the mandrel. of the flow control device and engage the slip carrier of such device to limit downward movement or the body and: to position the bore of the body communication with the bore of the flow control mandrel, expander sleeve telescoping. over and extending upwardly above the upper end. of. said section of the bodygripping means carried by: the body and slidable upon. the exterior cit-the expander sleeve whereby movement of the: expander sleeve downwardly with: respect to the gripping meansiexpands said gripping into gripping engagement with the bore wall; 01 the floweonductorto maintain the how guiding device ins-posi-tionthereing.theborev of the sleeve forming. an upward: continuation of the bore. ot the body,. the bores of the body: and sleeve gradually increasing diameter in. an upward direction from a. point. intermediate the ends of the body to: substantially the diameter of the bore of the conductor to guide fluidsflowing from the upper end of. said. control device to the bore of the conductor: in. 'astream of. gradually increasing diameter above said: point intermediate the ends of the body.

3. A flow guiding. device adapted to: be positioned in a: well flow conductor for" reducing turbulence of fluids flowing from aremovable subsurface well flow control device mounted in; said conductor,v said: flow guiding device including: a body having an axial flow passage therethrough; said body having its upper portion reduced in external diameter to provide a cylindrical neck section, a tubular expander: sleeve telescoping over the neck. section. of. the body and slidable longitudinally thereon, said expander sleevehaving a downwardly, tapering. expander section formed on its. exterior, gripping slips slidable upon the expander section of. the. sleeve and having depending. handles loosely connected with the body below itsneck portion, an. external annular flangeat the lower end oi the expander :sleeve having openings-formed therein through which the. slip handles are. freely slidable, the grippingslips beingex-pansible to. gripping engagement with theborerwallot. the flowconductor upon downward movementofi the expander sleeve with respect to; said: slips: whereby the guiding device is positively releasably anchored in said conductor, the lower portion of the bore of the body being engageable over the downstream end of the flow control device whereby fluidsv flow from said. control device into the bore of the. body, the bore of the body at its lower end being substantially equal in size to the bore of the control) device and having its upper end flared upwardly to substantially the diameter of the lower portion-of the bore of the expander sleeve, the bore of said expander sleeve forming an upward continuationof the bore of the body and. being. flared upwardly and outwardly above the upper end of the body neck section to substantially the diameter of the bore of the conductor, connecting means at the upper end of the expander sleeve for connecting the guide device with a' flexible line lowering and removing device,v the gripping slips being movable to retracted' non-gripping position upon pward movement of the expander sleeve with respect to said slips, and wedge means on the slip handles engageable with the flange at the lower end of the expander sleeve for positivelymoving said slips to retractedposi'tion.

4. A fi'ow guiding device. adapted to be positioned. in awell flow conductor for reducing turbulence of fluids flowing from a removable subsurface well flow control device mounted in said conductor, said flow guiding device including a body having an axial flow passage therethrough, said body having its upper portion reduced in external diameter to provide a cylindrical neck section, a tubular expander sleeve telescoping over the neck section. of the body and slidable longitudinally thereon,. said expander sleeve having a downwardly tapering expander section formed on its exterior, gripping slips slidable upon the expander section of the sleeve and having depending handles loosely connected with the body below itsv neck portion, an external annular flange at the lower end of the expander sleeve having openings formed therein through which the slip handles are freely slidable, the gripping slips being. expansible to gripping engagement with the bore wall of the flow conductor upon downward movement of the expander sleeve with respect tosaid slips whereby the guiding device is positively releasablyanchored in said conductor, the lower portionot the bore of the body being engageable over the downstream end of the flow control device whereby fluids flow from saidcontrol. device into the bore of the body, the bore of the body at its lower end being substantially equal. insize to thebore of the control device and having its upper end flared upwardly to substantially the diameter of' the lower portion ofthebore of the expander sleeve; the'bore of said expander sleeve forming an upward continuation. of the bore of the body and being flared upwardly and outwardly above the upper end of the body neck section to substantially the diameter of the bore of the conductor;

HERBERT C; OTIS.

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